Nature’s icons threatened by global warming

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From the glimmering coral of the Great Barrier Reef to snow-topped Mount Fuji, global warming may spell the final ruin of some of the most precious jewels of nature and civilisation. These are five sites at risk:

Great Barrier Reef

A warming climate is one of the principal menaces to the dazzling, 2,300km coral reef system off the coast of north-eastern Australia, known as the Great Barrier Reef. Home to thousands of species of fish and other creatures, the world’s largest coral reef is highly sensitive to the climate changes accompanying a warmer planet: rising seas, warming waters, storms, and greater ocean acidity. Higher temperatures, especially, threaten to accelerate reef decay.

“If conditions continue to worsen, the Great Barrier Reef is set to suffer from widespread coral bleaching and subsequent mortality, the most common effect of rising sea temperatures,” says Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, director of the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute.

Venice

The historic city of Venice is already sinking at a rate of 10cm a century as its lagoon expands and sediment settles, according to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation). In the 20th century, it lost an extra 10cm-13cm due to industry using water from the lagoon, the UN body says.

Venice. Photo: EPA

Further threatening the city’s trademark waterways is global warming raising the sea level.

Under a scenario of moderate warming, Venice could sink another 54cm by 2100, Unesco says, warning “If nothing is done it could be flooded every day.”

Mt Kilimanjaro. Photo: AFP

Mount Kilimanjaro

The glaciers of Tanzania’s dormant volcanic Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895m, have existed for more than 10,000 years. Yet they have lost 80% of their surface in the 20th century because of the impact of climate change and changing human activity such as people inhabiting the area.

With 50cm melting each year, the Kilimanjaro ice field could disappear within 15 years, Unesco warns.

Machu Picchu. Photo: TNS

Machu Picchu

Peru has placed Machu Picchu, the Incan city of the Andes, under close watch as the Salcantay glacier, which lies to the south, melts. The melting glacier could alter water supplies and affect animal and plant species around the ruins, many of which are already threatened with extinction according to Peru’s national meteorological and hydrological service.

In a warmer world, the ancient site would be exposed to a higher risk of forest fires or storm-triggered avalanches and flooding, experts say.

Mount Fuji. Photo: Reuters

Mount Fuji

Snow-capped Mount Fuji – its peak rising to 3,776m – is an iconic image of Japan. But the lower reaches of permafrost have receded up the mountain and now begin 3,500m to 3,700m above sea level, according to a study published in 2011. In 1976, they reached down to the 3,200m mark. – AFP Relaxnews